Voting machine



Nov. 20, 192 1,474,414

.1. F. ELLIOTT VOTING MACHINE Filed Nov, 22, 1921 Patented Nov. 20,. 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,474,414 PATENT. OFFICE.

JAMES I. ELLIOTT,OF SEARLES, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF FOETY-FIVE PER CENT TO M. E. MORRIS, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. i

vo'rrne MACHINE.

Application filed November 22-, 1921. Serial No. 516,986.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMns F. Ennio'rr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Searles, in the county oi Tuscaloosa and State'of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Voting Machines, of whichthe followingis a specification. 1

My said invention relates to an improved voting machine and it is an object 0:: the same to produce a simple, inexpensive and efiicient device of this character.

A further object of the invention is to provide a voting machine in which individual totals of votes may be available immediately on closing of the polls.

Another object is to provide a voting machine which is so made as to be capable of indefinite expansion to suit the necessities of the particular voting precinct or to suit the particular election to be held. All units not needed in any particular election can be stored. away so as to save space and avoid confusing the voters. Furthermore a voting machine can readily be built up by my system to any size required by the demands of the precinct or other voting unit thereby restricting the expense or" the machine to the actual needs of the community.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate slmilar parts, V

Figure 1 shows in perspective a composite box made up of a number of booths which may constitute a complete voting machine. v

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 a horizontal section on line, 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 1 a detail of parts shown in Figures 2 and 3. i

In the drawings 10 indicates an intermediate unit or box used in making up the composite box or machine shown; in Figure 1 and 11 and 12 indicate major or end units. Each box 10 includes a back, sides and bottom which may be of any conventional form and are all rigidly attachedtogether, the

back extending at 13 above the rest of the parts to provide a name plate on whlch may appear the name of a candidate for oilice.

The top 01 each intermediate box is formed in two sections 14 and 15whicl1 may be of which is shown in Figure 2..

18 held in guides on the box. This shutter covers an aperture which is closed by a transparent window 19 through which may be viewed the end 01'' a tallying machine 20. The closures 18 are normally held down by a sectional locking bar 21, extending the length of the composite box and held at the ends in any convenient manner. Preferably this bar is pivoted at one end to an end booth and locked with a pad-lock or the like at the other. i

The end boxes are similar to the intermediate boxes. Each of these boxes, however, also contains a vertical rack 22 mounted in guide 23 and normally forced up-by a spring 24%. At their upper ends the racks are rast to the end sections of a sectional plate extending from end to end of the box between the top sections 141 and 15. As will. be evident the springs 2d normally hold the plate in the upper position shown in Figure 1. i

The plate 25 forms a support for a number of punch keys 26 which are slidably mounted on the plate and the saecific form etween the plate and the tallying machines is a longitudinally extending bar 27 providing a guide slot directly above the corresponding tallying machine and adapted to guide the key 26 into operative relation to the plunger 28 of a tallying machine. At the end of major box 12there is mounted a shaft 29 carrying a spool for a cord 31. This cord is fastened to a punch key 26 which may be the only one in the box or which may be the end of the series. By turning a crank 32 the cord will be wound up and will draw the key or all of the keys into inactive position over the booth 12. This box contains no tallying machine.

The maj or box 11 supports a crank 33 on a sectional shaft 34-, the'shaft carrying pinions 35 meshing with the vertical racks 22.

At the rearside of the composite box,

which side is intended to be inaccessible to the voters, there is a button 36 connected tov gether by bolts 421 to provide tor expansion 01' the composite box. The locking bar ii. the slotted bar 22', the shalt 3%, the lowing bar 17 and the plate 25 are each terms in sections to permit ready expansion or con traction of the voting machine. The doors at the front oi? the machine are also pro-- vided with tongues and grooves s whole l'ront may be opened as one i may be locked in closed position lock 4L2 n the locking bar 17.

As many of the composite boxes h machines are provided as there are ollices to be filled and these may be arrang d in any convenient manner as along one wall of a room. Each machine comprises as i boxes as there are candidates to be voted. for that ol'lice but ony as many keys provided as there are ersons to be elected. F or example the oilice or governor oi? ti o State is filled by one person only theretoro only one key would be necessa y in he oo ernor machine. it live parties have candidates for governor it will be necessary to provide live boxes in addition to the end box 12 in which there is no tallying machine. The voter will then move the single liey to that box which carries the name of the desired candidate and by turn the crank 33 will depress the plate ca with t. the punch key which enters the 1 ed in guide bar 27 and presses down the "lungcr 28 of the tallying machine. this reg, ing one vote for the particular candida to. The machine is now out of control ol the voter who cannot raf e the plate this bei locked in. down position by detent 32'. nis operation can only be if i the manager of the election who hrs are to the rear oi the box and by pullinr: button 36 can release the cori 2'5 which can then be 'i'orced ti t to normal position. ll will he projection 38 forces detent Ill back and upon release thereof the clapper 39 gives a Q by striking bell 4:0, this signal being: toaintormation ot the manager or managers oi the election. It may be noted that the tront door 16 of the box 11 carries a similar extension 43 which moves with the front door to provide access to the slot in front of plate 25 whereby punch keys 26 may be posi- :lront doors are locked by bar 17 aud padlock 42.

For some ollices such as a board o l couniy supervisors or a' school lgioard seve al candidates are elected at one time. in such a case it is necessary to considerably increase the number of boxes in. the voting machine. If, for instance, three members of a school board are to be elected and tour iies arh have cai'ididatcs twelve hooihs ii ll be essary to carry the names and phi 11c 1" be provided punch voter ma the tallyl. to the na... dates or he may scatter the vote, or it dos he may scratch the ticliiet by ieavir or more oi the punch key. in the end hoot 12 where they will register no vote at all. although such keys are positioned above the tallying machine will register when ihe plate 25 is depressed.

After each vote is cast the manager of 1! election moves all of the toys to the cal booth 12 by turning crank 32 so that ii um; not appear how the preceding vote cast. The main purpose of the .iillitiii will be evident is to save the time hum spent in counting votes sin the total l'or each ollice will be available immediately when the polls are closed and l tact the aliyin g machines may be inspecte l through the tran parent windows 19 at any time necessai -y b unlocking the bar and raising the dors in ll will be evident that various-1 mouilications at my device may be mad; withou departing from the spirit oi? the "uvem'ion or the scope of the appended claims. i

in numerous o her ways.

Having thus tuly described my s-- vention, whatclaim. as new and desii Q to secure by Letters Patent. is:

1. In a voting machine ing machine in said box. ing thetallying machine extending over 1h:- box said plate having projection to lo the plate against return to its normal. f tion after the operation has taken via -c. substantially as set tortli.

2. A voting machine comprising; a plural-- ity of boxes adapted to be secured together side by side, each 0'! said boxes adapted to carry the name of a aindirlite, a series of tallying machines in said boxes. a vertically movable plate normally held at the top oi said boxes and one or more puncn keys on said plate adapted to operate one or more selected tallying machines, substantially as set forth.

3. A voting machine comprising a plurality of boxes adapted to be secured together side by side, each of said boxes adapted to a plz Sill loo I carry the name of a candidate, a series of tallying machines in said'boxes, a verticall movable plate normally held at the top of said boxes, one or more punch keys on said plate adapted to operate one or more selected tallying machines, and means for moving said punch keys into inoperative position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a voting machine, a plurality of minor units, a tallying machine in each unit, a major unit at one end of the minor units,

a bar extending over all said tallying 1na-" chines, one or more punch keys slidable on said bar and means on the major unit adapted to move said punch keys into idle position thereon, substantially as set forth.

5. In a voting machine, a plurality of units each containing a tallying machine, one or more keys adapted to be positioned above said tallying machines, means for sliding the keys horizontally to one end of the machine and guiding means above each tallying machine adapted to center the keys with reference thereto, substantially as set forth.

6. In a voting machine, a plurality of units adapted to be fixed together, tallying machines in said units, a plate extending over said units, one or more keys bent around said plate to be horizontally slidable thereon, said plate adapted to operate selective tallying machines and means to prevent repeating by a voter, substantially as set forth.

7. In a voting machine, a plurality of units adapted to be fixed together, tallying machines in said units, a plate extending over said units, one or more keys on said plate adapted to be moved horizontally thereon to operate selective tallying machines and means to prevent repeating by a voter comprising a detent for holding down said plate and means whereby the election manager may release the detent, substantially as set forth.

8. In a voting machine, a box, a tallying machine in said box, a plate for operating the tallying machine extending over the box said plate having a projection, to give an alarm when the plate is moved from'its normal position to operate the tallying machine and also to lock the plate against return to units adapted to. be secured together side by side, transparent windows at the rear of said units, shutters normally closing said windows and common means for locking said shutters comprising a bar extending lengthwise of the machine said bar formed of separable sections equal in number to the booths,'substantially as set forth.

10. In a voting machine, a series of boxes provided with mating edges, the front of each box forming a door, adjacent doors being provided with mating edges, means within the boxes for securing adjacent boxes together, and common means for looking all said doors in closed position, substantially as set forth.

11. In a voting machine, a series of boxes provided with mating edges, the front of each box forming a door and adjacent doors provided with mating edges and common means for looking all said doors in closed position comprising a sectional bar extending lengthwise of the machine and resting in a notch in the upper edge of said doors, substantially as set forth.

12. In a voting machine, a plurality of boxes, tallying machines therein, selective operating keys therefor slidably supported above said machines, and a bar extending lengthwise of the machine and having a separable section corresponding to each box thereof, each section of said bar also comprising a downwardly tapering guide opening for said operating keys, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Birmingham, Alabama,

this 30th day of September, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-one.

JAMES F. ELLIOTT.

I Vitnesses FAYE DnA'roN, MARGARET COPELAND. 

